Riders and skiers have the potential to trigger recently formed wind slabs and deeper hard slabs in a snowpack underlain by weak snow. This hazard will increase today as sunlight and warming weaken the snowpack and make the triggering of these slabs more likely. The chance for small wet slides will also increase this afternoon.
Dangerous hard slabs up to six feet in depth could be triggered on steep slopes where layers of weak faceted snow persist deep within snowpack. These dangerous slabs could be triggered on slopes that have been crossed multiple times by other riders or skiers. Failure of these dangerous slabs is very hard to predict and caution is advised.
Surface slabs up to two feet in depth could be triggered by backcountry travelers who venture into steep avalanche starting zones and cliff areas that have been loaded by recent winds. These slabs could be soft or hard and have the potential to step down and trigger dangerous persistent deep slabs in areas with poor snowpack structure. These slabs will increase in sensitivity as warming occurs today.
( Discussion is generated from the previous day's afternoon forecast. )High pressure is to continue with slightly warmer conditions expected on Thursday. A minor temperature inversion is also likely to develop. The general avalanche hazard is expected to be Moderate in the Tetons and Considerable in the Southwest Trail and Togwotee Pass areas. Recently formed wind slabs to two feet could be triggered in very steep terrain above 8000 feet and deep hard slabs that lie upon persistent weak snow layers could also be triggered with depths to eight feet. These deep instabilities are more prevalent and more likely to fail in the Togwotee Pass and Southwest Trails areas where the rating is higher. The chance to trigger avalanches will increase during the afternoon as sunlight and warming add stresses to the snowpack and weaken the surface slabs.
